Lon Morris Faces Loss of Title IV Funds

JACKSONVILLE — Things are not going very well for Lon Morris College, and now they seem to be getting even worse. The financially troubled school is about to start classes with drastically scaled-back enrollment, staff, and student offerings. Now, according to KETK, the school has confirmed with the Jacksonville Daily Progress that its Title IV status is in danger. Title IV funds are authorized under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965; they cover Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and other programs. In a letter from the U.S. Department of Education, officials say they’re withholding the funds from the college, citing LMC’s bankruptcy status.

This week an attorney for the school told the paper he felt it was against the law to deny Lon Morris the funds just because of the bankruptcy, but that a court has ruled otherwise. One student told KETK she’s already transferred to Jacksonville College over the matter. She says she loves Lon Morris, but that the school could have given students a heads-up. College officials also told the newspaper they’re still trying to work with the DOE to see if they can work something out. The college said it planned to send out a media release, which has not yet been received.